Image forming apparatus that controls regulation unit

ABSTRACT

The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge replaceable by detachably mounting to the image forming apparatus, a door that takes a closed state or an open state, a locking pin that switches a state of the regulation unit between a regulating state in which the replacement unit is prevented to be detached from the image forming apparatus and a release state in which the replacement unit is to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, and a lock control unit (a control unit) that makes a determination as to whether or not the state of the regulation unit is to be switched from the release state to the regulating state, at a predetermined timing when initial processing is completed after a power source is turned on or a state of the door becomes the closed state from the open state.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/237,493 filed Apr. 22, 2021, which is a continuation of Ser. No.16/598,644 filed Oct. 10, 2019 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,016,437, issued onMay 25, 2021), the contents of each of which are incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic orelectrostatic-recording image forming apparatus, for example a copier ora printer.

Description of the Related Art

In a conventional color image forming apparatus, light beams emittedfrom optical devices independently scan respective photoconductors, onwhich development units then form toner images of respective colors. Thetoner images of the respective colors formed on the photoconductors arelayered on an intermediate transfer belt to be eventually transferredonto a sheet, or layered on a transfer member on the belt to beeventually transferred onto a sheet. This tandem scheme isconventionally used to form color images. Some tandem-type color imageforming apparatuses employ process cartridges; each is an integratedcartridge containing an image forming unit, including a photoconductorand a toner image forming unit such as a development unit. Theintegrated process cartridges are arranged in a row removably from theimage forming apparatus body. For an image forming apparatus having suchprocess cartridges, a user may replace any of the process cartridgeswithout relying on a serviceman, for example when the cartridge runs outof a developer. This allows image forming to be continued, and alsoimproves maintainability because other supplies such as a photoconductorcan be replaced at the same time.

With environmental considerations, various techniques for image formingapparatuses have been proposed for finishing up a process cartridge thatincludes a toner container. For example, a technique has been disclosedin which, only when the right time to replace a process cartridge isdetected, a stopper for the process cartridge is disabled (released) toallow the process cartridge to be removed (for example, Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2005-091462). A technique has also beendisclosed that uses a locking unit for locking the cover of a tonercontainer, and a unit for detecting the out-of-toner state of the tonercontainer (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2011-008142). In this configuration, at the occurrence of theout-of-toner state of the toner container, the cover of the tonercontainer can be unlocked by a user operation to allow the tonercontainer to be replaced.

Further, a configuration has been disclosed in which if an error isdetected, a cover is automatically opened for permitting access to theerroneous location and the user is explicitly notified of the erroneouslocation (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2007-022030). In this configuration, after processing for recoveringfrom the error is performed, the user is explicitly notified ifprocessing following the error-recovery processing has not beencompleted.

Thus, with environmental considerations, the cartridges are locked by alocking mechanism provided for inhibiting the replacement of thecartridges until the toner in the cartridges is used up, and the usercannot easily release this locking mechanism. However, such aconfiguration has the following problems.

When the user replaces a cartridge that has reached the life end with anew cartridge, the user may erroneously shut (hereinafter also referredto as “close”) the cover of a toner container during the replacementoperation. Conventionally, the locking mechanism is set immediatelyafter the cover is closed. Then the user, trying to reopen the cover ofthe toner container for continuing the replacement operation, willrequire complicated operations for releasing the lock mechanism.

For example, when the user closes the cover after removing the cartridgethat has reached the life end and inserting a new cartridge, a papersheet may get caught between the apparatus body and the cover byaccident. The locking mechanism is then set immediately after the coveris closed, and the user needs to perform complicated unlockingoperations for opening the cover and removing the sheet. For example,the user may need to operate an operation panel many times or maypossibly ask a serviceman to come. Similar problems may occur inapparatuses in which a locking mechanism should be released forreplacing supplies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of embodiments of the present invention is an image formingapparatus that improves usability in replacing supplies.

Another aspect of embodiments of the present invention is an imageforming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material,including a replacement unit replaceable by detachably mounting to theimage forming apparatus, an open-close unit configured to be in a closedstate in which the replacement unit is prevented to be accessed or in anopen state in which the replacement unit is to be accessed, a regulationunit configured to switch a state of the regulation unit between aregulating state in which the replacement unit is prevented to bedetached from the image forming apparatus and a release state in whichthe replacement unit is to be detachable from the image formingapparatus, and a determination unit configured to make a determinationas to whether or not the state of the regulation unit is to be switchedfrom the release state to the regulating state, wherein thedetermination by the determination unit is made at a predeterminedtiming when initial processing is completed after a power source isturned on or a state of the open-close unit becomes the closed statefrom the open state.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram generally illustrating a color imageforming apparatus in first to fifth embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a door configuration in thefirst embodiment.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views when a door is open in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration in thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an unlocking process in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a determination process for lockingin a first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a door lock configuration whena door is open in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a door lock configurationin the second embodiment.

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view illustrating detection ofopening/closing of the door.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration in thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a determination process for lockingin a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a door lock configurationwhen a door is open in the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration in thethird embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an unlocking process in the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a determination process for lockingin a third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a determination process for lockingin a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration in afifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a determination process for lockingin a fifth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

[Image Forming Apparatus]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram generally illustrating a tandem-typecolor image forming apparatus in a first embodiment. The tandem-typecolor image forming apparatus is configured to be able to outputfull-color images by layering four colors of toner: yellow (Y), magenta(M), cyan (C) and black (K). The indices Y, M, C and K of referencesigns represent the respective colors. It is to be noted that theindices Y, M, C and K of the reference signs will be omitted exceptwhere members of a particular color are described. A laser scanner 11and a cartridge 12 are provided for image forming of each color. Thecartridge 12 includes a photosensitive drum 13 that rotates in thedirection of an arrow in FIG. 1 , as well as a drum cleaner 14, a chargeroller 15, and a development roller 16 that are provided to contact thephotosensitive drum 13, and a toner container 6 containing toner to besupplied to the development roller 16. An intermediate transfer belt 17is provided in contact with the photosensitive drums 13 of the fourcolors, and primary transfer rollers 18 are provided to face therespective photosensitive drums 13 with the intermediate transfer belt17 in between. Sheets 21, which are recording materials, are held in acassette 22. Provided on the conveyance path of the sheets 21 are asheet feed roller 25, conveyance rollers 26, and registration rollers27. A registration sensor 28 is provided near the registration rollers27 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheets 21.A secondary transfer roller 29 is provided to contact the intermediatetransfer belt 17, and a fixing device 30 and ejection rollers 59 areprovided downstream of the secondary transfer roller 29 in theconveyance direction. An ejected sheet sensor 53 is provided near theejection rollers 59.

An electrophotography process will now be described. The surface of thephotosensitive drum 13 is uniformly charged by the charge roller 15 at adark place in each cartridge 12. The surface of the photosensitive drum13 is then irradiated by the laser scanner 11 with laser light modulatedaccording to image data, so that the charges in the portions irradiatedwith the laser light are removed. An electrostatic latent image is thusformed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13. The developmentroller 16 applies charged toner to the electrostatic latent image toform a toner image of the corresponding color on the surface of thephotosensitive drum 13. The toner image formed on the surface of eachphotosensitive drum 13 is sequentially transferred in layers by theprimary transfer roller 18 onto the intermediate transfer belt 17.

Meanwhile, a sheet 21 in the cassette 22 is fed by the sheet feed roller25 and conveyed to the registration rollers 27 via the conveyancerollers 26. The toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 17 arethen transferred by the secondary transfer roller 29 onto the sheet 21conveyed via the registration rollers 27. Finally, the unfixed tonerimages on the sheet 21 are fixed by the fixing device 30, and theejection rollers 59 eject the sheet 21 out of the image formingapparatus. The ejected sheet sensor 53 for detecting the presence orabsence of a sheet ejected from the ejection rollers 59 is provided nearthe ejection rollers 59.

A body 1 has a control substrate 60, toner remaining amount detectionunits 62 serving as remaining amount detection units, and a display unit50. The control substrate 60 includes a control unit 61, which is acontrol unit for controlling the body 1. The control unit 61 isresponsible for the overall control of operation of the body 1, such ascontrol of driving sources for conveying the sheets 21 and controlrelated to image forming. The control unit 61 has a memory unit (notshown), in which machine type information is stored in advance, forexample before shipment from the factory. The toner remaining amountdetection units 62Y, 62M, 62C and 62K are units for detecting theamounts of toner remaining in the toner containers 6Y, 6M, 6C and 6K.The display unit 50 is a display device for notifying a user ofinformation from the body 1. The display unit 50 may be an operationpanel for example, which is capable of receiving input of information inaddition to displaying information.

[Cartridge Insertion Configuration]

The insertion configuration of the cartridges 12 in the first embodimentwill now be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B. FIGS. 2, 3Aand 3B are schematic perspective views of a printer, which is the imageforming apparatus in which the cartridges 12 can be detachably mountedonto the body 1. Each cartridge 12 is an example of a replacement unitreplaceable by detachably mounted onto the body 1 of the image formingapparatus; a new replacement unit is inserted into the body 1 andcontinually used, and eventually replaced at the time when replacementis needed (hereinafter referred to as the life end). Replacement of aunit may be needed when predetermined image quality cannot be maintainedany more in image forming with that replacement unit. FIG. 2 shows astate in which a door 40 as a first door is closed (close state); thefirst door 40 covers and uncovers an opening provided on the body 1 forreplacement of the cartridges 12. Here, the door 40 as an open-closeunit is a door for accessing the cartridges 12 for removing thecartridges 12 from inside the body 1. An operation member 41 is a memberoperated by the user to open and close the door 40. A door 42 as asecond door is a door for accessing the sheet conveyance path, such asfor performing jam handling for eliminating stagnating sheets 21 at theoccurrence of a paper jam during conveyance of the sheets 21.

FIG. 3A is a diagram when the door 40 is open (open state). From thestate of FIG. 2 , operating the operation member 41 to move the door 40in the direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3A uncovers the sectionof the door 40. Here, locking members 43Y, 43M, 43C and 43K are membersfor locking the removal of the respective cartridges 12Y, 12M, 12C and12K. Locking pins 44Y, 44M, 44C and 44K, which are regulation units, arepins for restricting the positions of the respective locking members43Y, 43M, 43C and 43K, which are also regulation units. Each locking pin44 can be switched between the protruding state and the retracting stateby a solenoid (not shown). In the protruding state, the locking pin 44protrudes frontward from the image forming apparatus beyond the lockingmember 43. In the retracting state, the locking pin 44 is behind thelocking member 43. Here, when the locking pin 44 is in the protrudingstate, the locking member 43 is fixed in the position of a regulatingstate (hereinafter referred to as the locked state) in which thecartridge 12 is locked so as not to be removed (removal inhibited). Thisprevents the user from removing the cartridge 12.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the locking pin 44Y in the retractingstate. In this state, the locking member 43Y can be pivotably moved to aposition (hereinafter referred to as a removable position) where thelocking member 43Y allows the cartridge 12 to be removed (removable). InFIG. 3B, the yellow cartridge 12Y is in a release state (hereinafterreferred to as the unlocked state) in which the cartridge 12Y isunlocked. The user can remove the cartridge 12Y from the body 1 bypulling out the cartridge 12Y in the direction indicated by a dark arrowin FIG. 3B. As shown in FIG. 3A, in this configuration, only opening thedoor 40 does not allow the cartridge 12 to be removed from the body 1.As shown in FIG. 3B, when the door 40 is open and the locking pin 44 isin the retracting state, the cartridge 12 can be removed in thefrontward direction (the arrow direction) from the image formingapparatus.

The locking pin 44Y is controlled by the control unit 61 to be describedbelow. The control unit 61 is configured to switch between a state inwhich the removal of the cartridge 12 is allowed (hereinafter referredto as removal allowed) and a state in which the removal is inhibited(hereinafter referred to as removal inhibited).

[Control Configuration]

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control configuration. The control unit61 includes components such as a CPU and is responsible for managementof information about the cartridges 12, management of the lives of thecartridges 12, and control of switching between locking and unlocking. Amanagement control unit 202 has a one-chip microcomputer (not shown)including ROM and RAM, and controls management of operations ofprinter-engine components. A sheet conveyance control unit 203,according to instructions from the management control unit 202, drivesthe sheet feed roller 25 for feeding the sheets 21 and rotates and stopsthe conveyance rollers 26 for conveying the sheets 21. A high voltagecontrol unit 204, according to instructions from the management controlunit 202, controls output of each of high voltages for charging,development and transfer. An optical control unit 205, according toinstructions from the management control unit 202, drives and stops ascanner motor (not shown) included in each laser scanner 11 and causesthe laser to flash. A sensor input control unit 206 outputs information(detection results) detected by the registration sensor 28 and theejected sheet sensor 53 to the management control unit 202. A fixingtemperature control unit 207 controls the temperature of the fixingdevice 30 to a temperature specified by the management control unit 202.An initial control unit 208 performs recovery processing (initialprocessing to be described later) immediately after power-on or afteremergency shutdown. The initial control unit 208 performs processingsuch as detecting the state of each cartridge 12, detecting remainingsheets (to be described later), and cleaning the intermediate transferbelt 17. A power supply control unit 209 supplies or cuts off necessarypower for each control unit upon power-on, upon power-off, upon movingto power-saving state (to be described later), or upon returning frompower-saving state. A lock control unit 210 manages information aboutthe cartridges 12 and manages the lives of the cartridges 12. The lockcontrol unit 210 further has a lock condition determination control unit230 and an unlock condition determination control unit 220. The lockcondition determination control unit 230 determines whether a conditionfor locking is satisfied and locks the supplies. The unlock conditiondetermination control unit 220 determines whether a condition forunlocking is satisfied and unlocks the supplies. The lock control unit210, having the lock condition determination control unit 230 and theunlock condition determination control unit 220, functions as adetermination unit that determines whether to lock or not, or whether tounlock or not.

Each cartridge 12 has an attribute information memory unit 70 thatstores supplies attribute information, and a life information memoryunit 71 that stores supplies life information. The supplies attributeinformation is information such as the serial number uniquely assignedto the cartridge 12, for example. The supplies life information isinformation indicating the life of the cartridge 12, for example. Theattribute information memory unit 70 and the life information memoryunit 71 are connected to a lock control unit 210 of the control unit 61upon insertion of the cartridge 12 into the body 1.

A supplies information memory unit 72, which is a first memory unit, isa nonvolatile memory unit residing in the body 1 for storing the contentof the attribute information memory unit 70 and the life informationmemory unit 71. The supplies information memory unit 72 is used todetect the replacement of the cartridge 12. The display unit 50 is usedto notify the user of the state of the printer (for example, that theprinter is ready for printing or that a cartridge 12 has reached thelife end) and to notify the user of information about the operation ofreplacing a cartridge 12. The display unit 50 also has a touch-panelfunction, for example, so that the user can input or set certaininformation by touching predetermined parts on a screen displayed on thedisplay unit 50.

[Supplies Attribute Information and Supplies Life Information]

Table 1 illustrates the content stored in the attribute informationmemory unit 70Y, which is a second memory unit. Table 2 illustrates thecontent stored in the life information memory unit 71Y, which is also asecond memory unit. In each of the Tables 1 and 2, the first columncontains items and the second column contains values for the respectiveitems. The attribute information memory unit 70Y stores the serialnumber (hereinafter denoted as the serial No.) unique to the cartridge12, machine type information about an image forming apparatus in whichthe cartridge 12 is to be used, and cartridge color informationindicating the color of the cartridge 12. This stored content is neverupdated by the control unit 61 (more specifically, the lock control unit210). For example, the attribute information memory unit 70Y for yellowstores the serial No. “12345,” the type information “LBPXXXX,” and thecartridge color information “Y”

TABLE 1 Item Value Serial No. 12345 Machine type LBPXXXX Cartridge colorinformation Y

The life information memory unit 71Y stores the life end rotation timefor determining the life end of the photosensitive drum 13Y, and thetotal rotation time of the photosensitive drum 13Y. The total rotationtime of the photosensitive drum 13Y is accumulated as the photosensitivedrum 13 rotates during the operation of the image forming apparatus, andupdated accordingly. The control unit 61 uses the values of the life endrotation time and the total rotation time to calculate the remaininglife of the photosensitive drum 13Y in terms of rotation time. Forexample, Table 2 stores 10000 sec (seconds) and 6000 sec for the lifeend rotation time and the total rotation time of the photosensitive drum13Y, respectively. The amount of usage in % is therefore6000/10000×100=60%, so that the life left for the photosensitive drum13Y (hereinafter referred to as the remaining life) is 40% (=100%−60%).

TABLE 2 Item Value End-of-life rotation time of photosensitive drum 13Y10000 sec Total rotation time of photosensitive drum 13Y  6000 secEnd-of-life rotation distance of photosensitive drum 13Y  5000 m Totalrotation distance of photosensitive drum 13Y  3500 m Remaining amount intoner container 6Y 25% Remaining amount for unlocking cartridge 12Y  5%

The life information memory unit 71Y also stores the life end rotationdistance for determining the life end of the photosensitive drum 13Y,and the total rotation distance of the photosensitive drum 13Y. Thetotal rotation distance of the photosensitive drum 13Y is accumulated asthe photosensitive drum 13 rotates during the operation of the imageforming apparatus, and updated accordingly. The control unit 61 uses thevalues of the life end rotation distance and the total rotation distanceto calculate the remaining life of the photosensitive drum 13Y in termsof rotation distance. For example, Table 2 stores 5000 m (meters) and3500 m for the life end rotation distance and the total rotationdistance of the photosensitive drum 13Y, respectively. The amount ofusage in % is therefore 3500/5000×100=70%, so that the remaining life ofthe photosensitive drum 13Y is 30% (=100%−70%).

The remaining amount in the toner container 6Y in Table 2 indicates theamount of toner remaining in the toner container 6Y detected by thetoner remaining amount detection unit 62Y, and the value is stored asdetected. In a typical technique, the amount of remaining toner iscalculated by accumulating the number of pixels of images formed by therelevant one of the laser scanners 11Y, 11M, 11C and 11K. Othertechniques may also be used to determine the amount of remaining toner.Among the three remaining amounts (remaining lives) of the cartridge 12Ybased on Table 2 (i.e., the remaining life determined with the totalrotation time, the remaining life determined with the total rotationdistance, and the remaining amount of toner), the amount with thesmallest value is regarded as the remaining amount of the cartridge 12Y.This remaining life with the smallest value among the three remaininglives will be hereinafter referred to as the shortest life information.

In the example of Table 2, the remaining life is determined as 40% fromthe total rotation time, 30% from the total rotation distance, and 25%from the amount of remaining toner. Accordingly, the control unit 61regards the remaining life (the shortest life information) of thecartridge 12Y as 25%. In this manner, the control unit 61 obtains theshortest life information from the remaining lives determined in thedifferent units based on the values stored in the life informationmemory unit 71 of the cartridge 12, and regards the obtained shortestlife information as the remaining life of the cartridge 12. In the firstembodiment, the remaining life of the cartridge 12 is thus determinedbased on the multiple pieces of information, specifically the totalrotation time, the total rotation distance, and the amount of remainingtoner. Alternatively, the remaining life of the cartridge 12 may bedetermined based on one piece of information, specifically any one ofthe total rotation time, the total rotation distance, and the amount ofremaining toner. Other information correlated with the remaining life ofthe cartridge 12 may also be used.

The remaining amount for unlocking the cartridge 12Y (hereinafterreferred to as the remaining amount for unlocking) in Table 2 is a setvalue for the remaining amount for releasing the locking mechanism, suchthat the locking mechanism is released if the remaining amount of thecartridge 12Y falls to or less than that value (hereinafter referred toas a set value for the remaining amount). If the remaining life of thecartridge 12Y falls to or less than the remaining amount for unlocking,the control unit 61 releases the locking mechanism. In the example ofTable 2, the control unit 61 releases the locking mechanism if theshortest life information falls to or less than 5%. The other colors arealso addressed in the same manner and therefore will not be described.This manner of unlocking by the control unit 61 (i.e., determining thetime to replace the cartridge 12 based on the shortest life informationand the remaining amount for unlocking and then releasing the lockingmechanism) will hereinafter be referred to as release of the lockingmechanism.

[Supplies Information Memory Unit]

Table 3 illustrates information stored in the supplies informationmemory unit 72. The supplies information memory unit 72 storesinformation selected from the information stored in the memory units(70, 71) of the cartridge 12 of each color. Here, the serial No. forcomparison, the lock state of the locking mechanism, and the shortestlife information are stored.

TABLE 3 Item Value Y Serial No. 12345 Lock state Locked Shortest lifeinformation 25% M Serial No. 67890 Lock state Locked Shortest lifeinformation 25% C Serial No. 98765 Lock state Locked Shortest lifeinformation 25% K Serial No. 55555 Lock state Locked Shortest lifeinformation 25%

In Table 3, the first column contains the colors, the second columncontains items for each color, and the third column contains values forthe respective items. For example, for yellow (Y), the serial No. hasinformation, for example “12345,” read from the attribute informationmemory unit 70Y. The lock state has information about the control of thelocking mechanism performed by the control unit 61 (“locked” or“unlocked”), which is here set to “locked” for example. Further, theshortest life information has information, for example “25%,” read fromthe life information memory unit 71Y.

[Control to Set and Release Locking Mechanism during Image Forming]

The method of handling the locking mechanism by the control unit 61 willnow be described with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS. 5 and 6 . Theflowchart in FIG. 5 illustrates the process flow of the release of thelocking mechanism, in which the locking mechanism is released if theremaining life of at least one cartridge 12 falls to or less than theremaining amount for unlocking (falls to or less than a predeterminedvalue) during image forming.

Upon receiving an image forming designation, the control unit 61 startsthe process beginning in step (hereinafter denoted as S) 101. In S101,the control unit 61 forms an image. In S102, during or after the imageforming, the control unit 61 refers to the information in Table 2 storedin each life information memory unit 71 by the lock control unit 210 todetermine whether or not the remaining life of at least one cartridge 12reaches the criterion for releasing the locking mechanism. Here, if theremaining life of a cartridge 12 reaches the criterion for releasing thelocking mechanism, it means that the cartridge 12 reaches the life end.If the control unit 61 determines in S102, through the lock control unit210, that the remaining life reaches the criterion, the control unit 61advances the process to S103. If the control unit 61 determines in S102,through the lock control unit 210, that the remaining life does notreach the criterion, the control unit 61 advances the process to S106.For example, for the yellow cartridge 12Y, the control unit 61determines by the lock control unit 210 that the remaining life is 25%from the shortest life information in Table 3 and that the criterion is5% from the remaining amount for unlocking in Table 2. The lock controlunit 210 compares these percentages and determines that the yellowcartridge 12Y does not reach the criterion. In S103, for the cartridge12 determined by the lock control unit 210 as having the remaining lifereaching the criterion for releasing the locking mechanism, the controlunit 61 releases the locking mechanism by causing the correspondinglocking pin 44 to retract. For example, if the remaining life of theyellow cartridge 12Y is equal to or less than the remaining amount forunlocking 5%, the lock control unit 210 causes the locking pin 44Y foryellow to retract.

In S104, for the lock state of the cartridge 12 determined by the lockcontrol unit 210 as reaching the life end, the control unit 61 storesinformation indicating the unlocked state (for example, “unlocked”) inTable 3 in the supplies information memory unit 72. In S105, the controlunit 61 causes the display unit 50 to display the following information.That is, the control unit 61 provides display of a notification of thelife end of the cartridge 12 and a prompt (such as a replacementattention) to replace the dead cartridge 12 with a new one (hereinafterreferred to as a new cartridge), and advances the process to S106. InS106, the control unit 61 determines whether or not a further imageforming designation is received. If the control unit 61 determines thata further image forming designation is received, the control unit 61returns the process to S101, if the control unit 61 determines that afurther image forming designation is not received, the control unit 61terminates the process.

Thus, the cartridge 12 is unlocked if the remaining life of thecartridge 12 falls to or less than a predetermined amount. This preventsincurring unnecessary cost by erroneously replacing the still alivecartridge 12 with another cartridge, for example a new cartridge.

[Process of Determining Whether to Set Locking Mechanism Upon Power-Onor Upon Door-Closing]

FIG. 6 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processinitiated by the control unit 61 when the power is turned on(hereinafter referred to as power-on) or when the door 40 is closed(hereinafter referred to as door-closing). The flowchart in FIG. 6includes starting initial processing upon power-on or upon door-closingand locking a cartridge 12 by the lock condition determination controlunit 230 upon completion of the initial processing.

At S110, the control unit 61 starts the initial processing through theinitial control unit 208. At S111, the control unit 61 starts theprocessing of checking the state of each cartridge 12 (hereinafterreferred to as cartridge state checking processing) through the initialcontrol unit 208. The cartridge state checking processing performed bythe initial control unit 208 is the processing of reading theinformation stored in the attribute information memory unit 70 or thelife information memory unit 71 (see Table 1 or 2) and checking thestate of the cartridge 12 based on the information read. At S112, thecontrol unit 61 determines whether the cartridge state checkingprocessing by the initial control unit 208 is finished. If it isdetermined that the processing is not finished, the control unit 61returns the process to S112; if it is determined that the processing isfinished, the control unit 61 advances the process to S113. At S113, thecontrol unit 61 displays the life information (the supplies lifeinformation) about the cartridge 12 checked at S111 on the display unit50, thereby notifying the user of the life information.

At S114, the control unit 61 starts remaining sheet detection processingthrough the initial control unit 208. Here, the remaining sheetdetection processing is the processing of rotating the rollers locatedon the conveyance path for a certain time period in order to check forany sheets remaining in the apparatus. While the rollers are beingrotated, the initial control unit 208 monitors for (monitors thepresence or absence of) the sheets 21 remaining on the conveyance path(hereinafter referred to as remaining sheets) with at least one sensor(not shown) located on the conveyance path. The remaining sheetdetection processing also includes the processing of ejecting, by theinitial control unit 208, any remaining sheet detected by the sensorfrom the apparatus by driving at least one roller located on theconveyance path for conveying the sheets 21.

At S115, the control unit 61 determines whether the remaining sheetdetection processing by the initial control unit 208 is finished. If itis determined that the processing is not finished, the control unit 61returns the process to S115; if it is determined that the processing isfinished, the control unit 61 advances the process to S116. At S116, thecontrol unit 61 determines whether no sheets remain in the apparatusaccording to the remaining sheet detection processing performed at S114.If it is determined at S116 that no sheets remain in the apparatus, thecontrol unit 61 advances the process to S117; if it is determined that asheet remains in the apparatus, the control unit 61 terminates theprocess. If the control unit 61 determines that a sheet remains in theapparatus, the control unit 61 may notify the user that a sheet remainsin the apparatus (i.e., a paper jam) by, e.g., displaying the fact onthe display unit 50, and then terminate the process.

At S117, the control unit 61 starts cleaning processing through theinitial control unit 208. Here, the cleaning processing refers to thefollowing processing. First, the intermediate transfer belt 17 and thephotosensitive drum 13 are driven to apply voltage of the polarityopposite to the voltage used in transferring a toner image from thephotosensitive drum 13 onto the intermediate transfer belt 17. Thiscauses the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 17 to betransferred onto the photosensitive drum 13 (hereinafter referred to asreverse transfer). Then, the reverse-transferred toner on thephotosensitive drum 13 is put in a discarded-toner container by the drumcleaner 14. At S118, the control unit 61 determines whether the cleaningprocessing by the initial control unit 208 is finished. If it isdetermined that the cleaning processing is not finished, the controlunit 61 returns the process to S118; if it is determined that thecleaning processing is finished, the control unit 61 advances theprocess to S119. At S119, the control unit 61 terminates the initialprocessing by the initial control unit 208.

At S120, the control unit 61, through the lock control unit 210, readsthe information stored in the supplies information memory unit 72 (“lockstate” in Table 3) and determines whether the lock on the consumableitem (here, the cartridge 12) is released based on the information read.If it is determined at S120 that the lock is not released i.e., the lockis set (locked), the control unit 61 terminates the process. If it isdetermined at S120 that the lock is released, the control unit 61advances the process to S121. At S121, through the lock control unit210, the control unit 61 determines whether the consumable item (thecartridge 12) has yet to reach the life end based on the informationstored in the supplies information memory unit 72 (“shortest lifeinformation” in Table 3). Here, since the cartridge state checkingprocessing is already finished at the end of the initial processing, theinformation stored in the supplies information memory unit 72 is alreadyupdated. If it is determined at S121 that the consumable item (thecartridge 12) has reached the life end, the control unit 61 terminatesthe process while keeping the cartridge 12 unlocked. If it is determinedat S121 that the consumable item (the cartridge 12) has not reached thelife end, the control unit 61 advances the process to S122. At S122, thecontrol unit 61 locks the consumable item (the cartridge 12) through thelock control unit 210. In the first embodiment, for the cartridge 12 inthe unlocked state when the door is closed, the cartridge 12 is notlocked if the cartridge 12 has reached the life end, i.e., if thereplacement operation has not been completed.

As described above, the control unit 61 performs the initial processingstarted upon power-on or upon door-closing, and determines whether toset the lock upon completion of the initial processing. In this manner,the control unit 61 can determine that the operation of replacing thecartridge 12 at the life end has been completed. If the door 40 isclosed even though the replacement operation is not completed, thecontrol unit 61 can keep the cartridge 12 unlocked.

Although the initial processing in the above-described first embodimentincludes performing the cartridge state checking processing, theremaining sheet detection processing, and the cleaning processing, thisis not limiting. For example, the initial processing may includeperforming the processing of pulling off a cartridge seal. Theprocessing of pulling off a cartridge seal is the processing of removinga seal member attached to a new cartridge that replaces the oldcartridge. Here, the seal member is a member for sealing the cartridgeto prevent the toner in the cartridge from spilling out during shipment.

Although the flowchart in FIG. 6 describes control such that the stepsof the initial processing are sequentially performed, this is notlimiting. The steps of the initial processing may be performed inparallel. For example, processing such as the remaining sheet detectionprocessing may be performed while the cartridge state checkingprocessing is being performed. In this case, if the cartridge statechecking processing is still being performed when the other steps of theinitial processing are finished, the cartridge 12 is controlled not tobe locked until the entire initial processing is finished.

Although the lock is set after the initial processing is finished (S119to S122 in FIG. 6 ) in the first embodiment, the determination to setthe lock may also be made at the following times. That is, thisdetermination may be made during the initial processing, or after alapse of a predetermined time period from the finish of the initialprocessing (for example, before moving to power-saving state). It is tobe noted that the initial processing here refers to the steps of theinitial processing other than the cartridge state checking processing;the cartridge 12 is controlled not to be locked at least until thecartridge state checking processing is finished.

Although the locking mechanism in the color image forming apparatus withmultiple cartridges has been described in the first embodiment, similarcontrol is also possible for a monochrome image forming apparatus withonly one cartridge. Thus, according to the first embodiment, usabilityrelated to the locking mechanism for the replaceable replacement unit(s)can be improved. Although the first embodiment has been described withreference to the configurations shown in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, similarcontrol is also possible with the configurations in FIGS. 7, 8A and 8Bin a second embodiment and the configuration in FIG. 11 in a thirdembodiment to be described later.

Thus, according to the first embodiment, usability in replacing suppliescan be improved.

Second Embodiment

In a second embodiment, the apparatus has doors for individuallyaccessing the respective cartridges 12Y, 12M, 12C and 12K. Each doorincludes a door locking mechanism that restricts the removal of thecorresponding cartridge 12, and further includes a sensor that detectsthe opening/closing of the door. The same components as described in thefirst embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and not bedescribed.

[Configurations of Cartridges and Doors]

The insertion configuration of the cartridges 12 and the doorconfiguration in the second embodiment will be described with referenceto FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of aprinter, which is the image forming apparatus in which the cartridges 12can be inserted into and removed from the body 1 of the image formingapparatus. In the second embodiment, a door is provided for eachcartridge 12. FIG. 7 shows doors 45Y, 45M, 45C and 45K provided for therespective cartridges 12, among which the door 45Y is open and the doors45M, 45C and 45K are closed. Locking pins 47, which are regulationunits, restrict the movement of the respective doors 45 toward the openstate. Locking members 51, which are also regulation units, are pairedwith the respective locking pins 47 to hold the doors 45 closed.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, when the locking pin 47Y is in the protrudingstate, the locking pin 47Y engages with the locking member 51Y to holdthe door 45Y closed. The door 45Y held closed inhibits the user fromremoving the cartridge 12Y. The locking pins 47 are controlled by acontrol unit 81 to be described later (more specifically, a lock controlunit 211) to either allow the respective doors 45 to be open (dashedlines) (hereinafter referred to as “allowed to be open”) or hold therespective doors 45 closed (solid lines) (hereinafter referred to as“held closed”).

An open/close sensor 48Y, which is a second detection unit, detects theopen/closed state of the door 45Y. A member 49Y is a member for theopen/close sensor 48Y to detect the open/closed state of the door 45Y.In FIG. 7 , open/close sensors 48M, 48C and 48K, which are seconddetection units, and members 49M, 49C and 49K are not shown because thedoors 45M, 45C and 45K are closed. Operation members 46M, 46C and 46Kare members for operating the respective doors 45M, 45C and 45K. Anoperation member 46Y is not shown because the door 45Y is open.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view at the position of the locking pin47Y, illustrating the cartridge 12Y and the door locking configurationof the door 45Y. The locking pin 47Y includes a locking pin body 47Yaand a member 47Yb that is retracted inside or protrudes outside thelocking pin body 47Ya. With the door 45Y closed, if the member 47Yb ofthe locking pin 47Y is lowered to protrude, the member 47Yb engages withthe locking member 51Y The engagement of the member 47Yb of the lockingpin 47Y with the locking member 51Y holds the door 45Y closed (heldclosed). In contrast, if the member 47Yb of the locking pin 47Y islifted to retract into the locking pin body 47Ya, the door 45Y isunlocked and allowed to be open, so that the door 45Y can be opened byoperating the operation member 46Y.

[Detection of Opening/Closing of Door]

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view at the position of the open/closesensor 48Y, illustrating the cartridge 12Y and the configuration ofdetection of the opening/closing of the door 45Y. The open/close sensor48Y may be implemented with, for example, a photointerrupter. Forexample, the open/close sensor 48Y includes a light emission unit 48Yathat emits light and a light reception unit 48Yb that receives the lightemitted from the light emission unit 48Ya. When the member 49Y isinserted in the open/close sensor 48Y, the light emitted from the lightemission unit 48Ya is blocked by the member 49Y and therefore notreceived by the light reception unit 48Yb. Accordingly, the open/closesensor 48Y detects that the door 45Y is closed. In contrast, when themember 49Y is not inserted in the open/close sensor 48Y, the lightemitted from the light emission unit 48Ya is received by the lightreception unit 48Yb without being blocked by the member 49Y.Accordingly, the open/close sensor 48Y detects that the door 45Y isopen. The information detected by the open/close sensor 48Y (thedetection result) is provided to the lock control unit 211 in thecontrol unit 81 to be described later.

[Control Configuration]

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the control configuration in the secondembodiment. The control unit 81 includes components such as a CPU and isresponsible for management of information about the cartridges 12 andmanagement of the lives of the cartridges 12, as well as output controlfor the door locking mechanism, and detection with the open/closesensors 48. The control unit 81 includes the lock control unit 211,which has the unlock condition determination control unit 220 and a lockcondition determination control unit 231. The control unit 81 performscontrol of the locking pins 47Y, 47M, 47C and 47K (protrusion andretraction of the member 47Yb) with the lock condition determinationcontrol unit 231 and the unlock condition determination control unit220, and detection with the open/close sensors 48Y, 48M, 48C and 48K.Other components are similar to the components in the first embodiment;the same components are given the same reference signs and will not bedescribed. The unlocking processing by the unlock conditiondetermination control unit 220 has been described with reference to FIG.5 in the first embodiment and therefore will not be described.

[Process of Determining Whether to Set Locking Mechanism upon Power-Onor Upon Door-Closing]

In the second embodiment, an example will be described with reference toa flowchart in FIG. 10 in which the lock condition determination controlunit 231 determines whether to set the lock after normal completion ofprint operations (print processing) (hereinafter referred to asprinting) executed following the initial processing. Again, the processin FIG. 10 is performed by the control unit 81 upon power-on or upondoor-closing. Processing at S210 is the same as the processing at S110in FIG. 6 and therefore will not be described. Processing at S211represents the processing at S111 to S119 in FIG. 6 as a singledetermination step and therefore will not be described.

At S212, the control unit 81 determines whether printing is executed. Ifit is determined at S212 that printing is not executed, the control unit81 returns the process to S212; if it is determined that printing isexecuted, the control unit 81 advances the process to S213. At S213, thecontrol unit 81 starts print processing. At S214, the control unit 81determines whether the print processing is finished. If it is determinedat S214 that the print processing is not finished, the control unit 81returns the process to S214; if it is determined that the printprocessing is finished, the control unit 81 advances the process toS215. Processing at S215 to S217 is the same as the processing at S120to S122 in FIG. 6 and therefore will not be described. Again, in thesecond embodiment, for the door 45 in the unlocked state when the dooris closed, the door 45 will not be locked if the cartridge 12 is at thelife end, i.e., if the replacement operation has not been completed.

As described above, in the second embodiment, printing is executed afterthe initial processing, and whether to lock the door 45 is determinedafter the completion of the printing. In this manner, the control unit81 can determine that the operation of replacing the cartridge 12 at thelife end has been completed.

Although whether to lock the supplies is determined after the printingis finished in the second embodiment, this determination may also bemade at the following times. For example, this determination may be madeat the start of the printing, during the printing, or after a lapse of apredetermined time period from the finish of the printing (for example,before moving to power-saving state). The control unit 81 (morespecifically, the lock condition determination control unit 231 in thelock control unit 211) may also make this determination if, after theprinting is finished, the ejected sheet sensor 53 detects that anejected sheet 21 has been removed. Although the second embodiment hasbeen described with reference to the configurations in FIGS. 7, 8A and8B, similar control is also possible with the configurations in FIGS. 2,3A and 3B in the first embodiment and the configuration in FIG. 11 inthe third embodiment to be described later.

Thus, according to the second embodiment, usability in replacingsupplies can be improved.

Third Embodiment

In a third embodiment, operations will be described in a configurationin which the apparatus has a single door common to the cartridges 12Y,12M, 12C and 12K; the door includes a locking mechanism that restrictsthe removal of the cartridges, and further a sensor that detects theopening/closing of the door. The same components as described in thefirst and second embodiments will be given the same reference numeralsand not be described.

[Door Configuration]

The insertion configuration of the cartridges 12 and the doorconfiguration in the third embodiment will be described with referenceto FIG. 11 . FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a printer, whichis the image forming apparatus in which the cartridges 12 can beinserted into and removed from the body 1 of the image formingapparatus. FIG. 11 shows a single door 52 provided for all cartridges12, which is open. A locking pin 47 restricts the movement of the door52 toward the open state. A locking member 51 is paired with the lockingpin 47 to hold the door 52 closed. When the locking pin 47 is in theprotruding state, the locking pin 47 engages with the locking member 51to hold the door 52 closed. The door 52 held closed inhibits the userfrom removing the cartridges 12Y, 12M, 12C and 12K. The locking pin 47is controlled by a control unit 91 (more specifically, a lock controlunit 212) to either allow the door 52 to be open or hold the door 52closed.

An open/close sensor 48, which is a first detection unit, detects theopen/closed state of the door 52. A member 49 is a member for theopen/close sensor 48 to detect the open/closed state of the door 52. Thecartridges 12 can be removed when the door 52 is in the state shown inFIG. 11 . In the third embodiment, release of the locking mechanism ofthe door 52 enables replacement of the cartridges 12. Therefore, thedoor 52 is allowed to be open if at least one of the cartridges 12reaches the life end. The door lock configuration and the open/closesensor configuration are the same as in the second embodiment and willnot be described.

[Control Configuration]

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the control configuration in the thirdembodiment. The control unit 91 includes components such as a CPU and isresponsible for management of information about the cartridges 12 andmanagement of the lives of the cartridges 12, as well as output controlfor the door locking mechanism of the door 52, and detection with theopen/close sensor 48. The control unit 91 includes a lock control unit212, which has an unlock condition determination control unit 222 and alock condition determination control unit 232. The lock control unit 212in the control unit 91 controls output for the locking pins 47 anddetects the state of the door 52 with the open/close sensor 48. Othercomponents are similar to the components in the first and secondembodiments; the same components are given the same reference signs andwill not be described.

[Locking Mechanism]

The method of release of the locking mechanism for the cartridges 12 bythe control unit 91 will now be described with reference to FIG. 13 .The flowchart in FIG. 13 illustrates a locking mechanism releasingprocess in which the door 52 is unlocked by the unlock conditiondetermination control unit 222 if the remaining amount of the toner in acartridge 12 falls to or below a predetermined value during imageforming.

Upon receiving an image forming designation, the control unit 91 startsthe process beginning in S201. In S201, the control unit 91 forms animage. In S202, during or after the image forming, the control unit 91determines by the lock control unit 212 whether or not the remaininglife of at least one cartridge 12 reaches the value of the unlockingcriterion for unlocking the door 52. If the control unit 91 determinesin S202 that the remaining life reaches the criterion for unlocking thedoor 52, the control unit 91 advances the process to S203, while if thecontrol unit 91 determines in S202 that the remaining life has not yetreach the criterion for unlocking the door 52, the control unit 91advances the process to S206.

In S203, the control unit 91 operates the locking pin 47 by the lockcontrol unit 212 to unlock the door 52. In S204, for the lock state ofthe cartridge 12 of the color determined by the lock control unit 212 asreaching the life end, the control unit 91 stores information indicatingthe unlocked state (for example, “unlocked”) in Table 3 in the suppliesinformation memory unit 72. In the third embodiment, the lifeinformation memory unit 71 of each cartridge 12 has an area for storinglock information, and the lock control unit 212 stores the unlockedstate in the life information memory unit 71 of the cartridge 12 of thecolor reaching the life end. In S205, the control unit 91 provides, onthe display unit 50, a notification of the life end of the cartridge 12and a prompt to replace the cartridge 12 of the color reaching the lifeend with a new cartridge, and advances the process to S206. In S206, thecontrol unit 91 determines whether or not a further image formingdesignation is received. If the control unit 91 determines in S206 thata further image forming designation is received, the control unit 91returns the process to S201, if the control unit 91 determines in S206that a further image forming designation has not yet received, thecontrol unit 91 terminates the image forming operation.

[Process of Determining Whether to Set Locking Mechanism upon Power-Onor Upon Door-Closing]

In the third embodiment, an example will be described with reference toa flowchart in FIG. 14 in which the lock condition determination controlunit 232 determines whether to set the lock when power-saving state (thepower-saving state) is entered after the initial processing. Inpower-saving state, less power is consumed than in image forming. Theimage forming apparatus in the third embodiment can move to the stand-bystate, in which the apparatus is on standby for performing image formingoperations. After a lapse of a predetermined time period from moving tothe stand-by state, the image forming apparatus in the third embodimentmoves to power-saving state. Again, the process in FIG. 14 is performedby the control unit 91 upon power-on or upon door-closing. Processing atS300 is the same as the processing at S110 in FIG. 6 and therefore willnot be described. Processing at S301 represents the processing at S111to S119 in FIG. 6 as a single determination step and therefore will notbe described.

At S302, the control unit 91 determines whether a condition for movingto power-saving state is satisfied. In the third embodiment, forexample, the condition for moving to power-saving state may be that thestand-by state (in which the apparatus is ready to start printing inresponse to receiving a print instruction) continues for one minuteafter the initial processing is finished. If it is determined at S302that the condition for moving to power-saving state is not satisfied,for example that one minute has not been elapsed from the start of thestand-by state, the control unit 91 returns the process to S302. If itis determined at S302 that the condition for moving to power-savingstate is satisfied, for example that one minute has been elapsed fromthe start of the stand-by state, the control unit 91 advances theprocess to S303. Processing at S303 to S305 is the same as theprocessing at S120 to S122 in FIG. 6 and therefore will not bedescribed. Here, the process proceeds to S306 if the lock is set at S303(No), if the cartridge 12 has reached the life end at S304 (No), orafter the processing at S305.

At S306, the control unit 91 moves to power-saving state and terminatesthe process. Again, in the third embodiment, for the door 52 in theunlocked state when the door is closed, the door 52 will not be lockedif the cartridge 12 is at the life end, i.e., if the replacementoperation has not been completed.

As described above, in the third embodiment, whether to set the lock isdetermined when power-saving state is entered after the initialprocessing. In this manner, the control unit 91 can determine that theoperation of replacing the cartridge 12 at the life end has beencompleted. Although whether to lock the supplies is determined whenpower-saving state is entered in the third embodiment, thisdetermination may also be made at the following times. For example, thisdetermination may be made in the process of moving to power-savingstate, after a lapse of a predetermined time period from moving topower-saving state, or upon returning from power-saving state. Althoughthe third embodiment has been described with reference to theconfiguration in FIG. 11 , similar control is also possible with theconfigurations in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B in the first embodiment and theconfigurations in FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B in the second embodiment.

Thus, according to the third embodiment, usability in replacing suppliescan be improved.

Fourth Embodiment

In a fourth embodiment, an example will be described in which aconfirmation screen for confirming whether the replacement operation hasbeen completed is displayed on the display unit 50 (such as an operationpanel) after the initial processing; in response to the user confirmingthe completion of the replacement operation on the display unit 50,whether to set the lock is determined. The following description takesthe control unit 61 in FIG. 4 as an exemplary control unit. Theconfirmation screen displayed on the display unit 50 may contain, forexample, a message such as “Have you completed the replacementoperation?” and a virtual button at a predetermined location on thescreen indicating “Completed” (hereinafter referred to as a virtualbutton). After completing the replacement operation, the user touches(presses) the predetermined location, for example the virtual button“Completed,” displayed on the display unit 50. The control unit 61accordingly determines that the completion of the replacement operationis confirmed. Similar control is possible in any of the configurationsin FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B in the first embodiment, the configurations inFIGS. 7, 8A and 8B in the second embodiment, and the configuration inFIG. 11 in the third embodiment.

[Process of Determining Whether to Set Locking Mechanism upon Power-Onor Upon Door-Closing]

Description will be given with reference to a flowchart in FIG. 15 .Processing at S400 is the same as the processing at S110 in FIG. 6 andtherefore will not be described. Processing at S401 represents theprocessing at S111 to S119 in FIG. 6 as a single determination step andtherefore will not be described. At S402, the control unit 61 determineswhether the user performs an operation corresponding to the completionof the replacement operation (for example, presses the above-describedvirtual button “Completed”) on the display unit 50 (such as an operationpanel). In the fourth embodiment, the control unit 61 displays theabove-described confirmation screen on the display unit 50 uponcompletion of the initial processing. If the user presses thepredetermined location on the confirmation screen, the control unit 61determines the completion of the replacement operation.

If it is determined at S402 that the above-described operation is notperformed, the control unit 61 returns the process to S402; if it isdetermined that the above-described operation is performed, the controlunit 61 advances the process to S403. Processing at S403 to S405 is thesame as the processing at S120 to S122 in FIG. 6 and therefore will notbe described. Again, in the fourth embodiment, for the cartridge 12 inthe unlocked state when the door is closed, the cartridge 12 will not belocked if the cartridge 12 is at the life end, i.e., if the replacementoperation has not been completed.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the confirmation screenfor confirming whether the replacement operation has been completed isdisplayed on the display unit 50. If the user performs an operationcorresponding to the completion of the replacement operation on thedisplay unit 50, whether to set the lock is determined. In this manner,the control unit 61 can determine that the operation of replacing thecartridge 12 at the life end has been completed.

Thus, according to the fourth embodiment, usability in replacingsupplies can be improved.

Fifth Embodiment

A fifth embodiment will be described with reference to theconfigurations in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B described in the first embodiment.FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B have been described in the first embodiment andtherefore will not be described.

[Control Configuration]

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control configuration in the fifthembodiment. The control unit 101 includes components such as a CPU andis responsible for management of information about the cartridges 12,management of the lives of the cartridges 12, control of output for thelocking mechanism of the door 40, and detection with a human detectingsensor 54. The control unit 101 includes a lock control unit 213, whichhas the unlock condition determination control unit 220 and a lockcondition determination control unit 233. The lock control unit 213 inthe control unit 101 controls output for the locking pins 44. The humandetecting sensor 54 is located on the front side of the image formingapparatus, for example. The front side of the image forming apparatusrefers to the side on which the door 40 is provided, for example. Thehuman detecting sensor 54 detects whether a human is present near theimage forming apparatus and outputs the detection result to the controlunit 101. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.The unlocking processing by the unlock condition determination controlunit 220 has been described with reference to FIG. 5 in the firstembodiment and therefore will not be described.

[Process of Determining Whether to Set Locking Mechanism upon Power-Onor Upon Door-Closing]

In the fifth embodiment, an example will be described with reference toFIG. 17 in which the control unit 101, through the lock conditiondetermination control unit 233, determines whether to set the lock ifthe human detecting sensor 54 determines the absence of humans near theimage forming apparatus after the initial processing. Again, the processin FIG. 17 is performed by the control unit 101 upon power-on or upondoor-closing. Processing at S500 is the same as the processing at S110in FIG. 6 and therefore will not be described. Processing at S501represents the processing at S111 to S119 in FIG. 6 as a singledetermination step and therefore will not be described.

At S502, the control unit 101 determines whether a human is detected bythe human detecting sensor 54. If it is determined at S502 that a humanis detected by the human detecting sensor 54, the control unit 101returns the process to S502; if it is determined that no human isdetected, the control unit 101 advances the process to S503. In thedetermination at S502, the control unit 101 may determine that no humanis detected if the human detecting sensor 54 detects no humancontinuously for a predetermined time period. Processing at S503 to S505is the same as the processing at S120 to S122 in FIG. 6 and thereforewill not be described. Again, in the fifth embodiment, for the door 40in the unlocked state when the door is closed, the door 40 will not belocked if the cartridge 12 is at the life end, i.e., if the replacementoperation has not been completed.

As described above, in the fifth embodiment, whether to set the lock isdetermined if the absence of humans near the image forming apparatus isdetermined based on the result of detection by the human detectingsensor 54 after the initial processing. In this manner, the control unit101 can determine that the operation of replacing the cartridge 12 atthe life end has been completed. Although the fifth embodiment has beendescribed with reference to the configurations in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B,similar control is also possible with the configurations in FIGS. 7, 8Aand 8B in the second embodiment and the configuration in FIG. 11 in thethird embodiment.

Thus, according to the fifth embodiment, usability in replacing suppliescan be improved.

According to the present invention, usability in replacing supplies canbe improved.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2018-202043, filed Oct. 26, 2018, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: aconsumable item configured to be used for forming an image on arecording material, wherein the consumable item is detachably mounted toa main body of the image forming apparatus; a rotator; a regulation unitconfigured to be in a regulating state in which the consumable item isprevented to be detached from the main body or in a release state inwhich the consumable item is to be detachable from the main body; and aprocessor configured to control an actuator for switching the regulationunit between the release state and the regulating state, wherein in acase where the consumable item is replaced with a new one, a rotatingprocessing for rotating the rotator is performed, and wherein in a casewhere the rotating processing has not finished, the processor isconfigured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit stays inthe release state, and the processor is configured to control theactuator so that the regulation unit is switched to the regulating stateafter the rotating processing has finished.
 2. The image formingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured todetermine whether a remaining life of the consumable item reaches apredetermined life or not, and wherein in a case where it is determinedthat the remaining life of the consumable item does not reach thepredetermined life, the processor is configured to control the actuatorso that the regulation unit stays in the regulating state, and in a casewhere it is determined that the remaining life of the consumable itemreaches the predetermined life, the processor is configured to controlthe actuator so that the regulation unit is switched to the releasestate.
 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, furthercomprising: a first memory unit configured to store information about astate of the consumable item between the regulating state and therelease state; and a second memory unit provided in the consumable item,the second memory unit configured to store information about theconsumable item, wherein the processor is configured to determinewhether to control the actuator for switching a state of the regulationunit based on information stored in the first memory unit and the secondmemory unit.
 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,wherein in a case where it is determined that the consumable item is inthe release state based on the information stored in the first memoryunit, and the remaining life of the consumable item does not reach thepredetermined life based on the information stored in the second memoryunit, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that theregulation unit is switched to the regulating state.
 5. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in a case where it isdetermined that the remaining life of the consumable item reaches thepredetermined life, the processor is configured to control the actuatorso that the regulation unit is switched to the release state to replacethe consumable item with the new one, and store the state of theconsumable item as in the release state in the first memory unit.
 6. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the informationabout the consumable item includes a serial number of the consumableitem and information about an image forming apparatus into which theconsumable item is to be mounted.
 7. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the information about the consumable itemincludes information about a color of the consumable item.
 8. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable item is acartridge which includes at least a photosensitive member on which anelectrostatic latent image is to be formed and a development unitconfigured to develop the electrostatic latent image on thephotosensitive member with toner to form a toner image.
 9. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image formingapparatus is capable of shifting to a power-saving state whose powerconsumption is less than power consumption of image formation, andwherein the processor is configured to perform a shifting of a state ofthe image forming apparatus to the power-saving state when apredetermined time has passed after the rotating processing hasfinished.
 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe regulation unit comprises a lock member and a locking pin, andwherein in a case where the regulation unit is in the release state, thelocking pin is in a projecting state to move the lock member to aposition where the consumable item is not able to be pulled out, and ina case where the regulation unit is in the regulating state, the lockingpin is in a retracting state to move the lock member to a position wherethe consumable item is able to be pulled out.
 11. The image formingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality ofconsumable items including the consumable item, and wherein the lockmember and the locking pin are provided for each of the plurality of theconsumable items.
 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: a door configured to be in a closed state in whichthe consumable item is prevented to be accessed or in an open state inwhich the consumable item is to be accessed, and wherein the regulationunit comprises a lock member and a locking pin, and wherein in a casewhere the regulation unit is in the release state, the locking pindisengages from the lock member provided in the door, and in a casewhere the regulation unit is in the regulating state, the locking pinengages with the lock member provided in the door.
 13. The image formingapparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a plurality ofconsumable items including the consumable item, a plurality of doorsincluding the door, the plurality of doors corresponding to theplurality of consumable items respectively, and wherein the lock memberis provided in each of the plurality of the doors.
 14. The image formingapparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a plurality ofconsumable items including the consumable item, and wherein the door isfor accessing the plurality of the consumable items, and wherein thelock member is provided in the door.
 15. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the rotator is provided in the consumableitem.
 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein therotator includes a photosensitive drum.
 17. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the rotator includes a transfer membercontacting a photosensitive drum.
 18. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the rotator includes a roller located in aconveyance path thorough which a sheet passes.
 19. The image formingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured tocontrol the actuator so that the regulation unit is switched to theregulating state after a lapse of a predetermined time period from thefinish of the rotating processing.
 20. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to control theactuator so that the regulation unit is switched to the regulating statebefore shifting to the power-saving state.